News, Media and Stories | Dance

Tom Miles Theatre Sign
The Instant Theatre Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14 opens a four-performance schedule for the theatre and dance programs this fall.
The Autumn Choreographers Concert and Jazz Nite are approaching. Get your tickets now for in person and virtual performances!
Marsh Lawn
One Woman, Too Much is an hour-long play about the juggling act of a single working mom. The play is written and produced by Ellen Margolis, the chair of the Pacific University Theatre & Dance Department. 
Chika Matsumoto '21
Chika Matsumoto '21 received the 2021 Outstanding Contributions to Student Life Award from Pacific University.
Leiana Petlewski '21
A dance and applied theatre double major, Leiana Petlewski '21 was selected as Pacific’s undergraduate valedictorian for May 2021 Commencement. They also were named the university’s Outstanding Senior in Applied Theatre (along with fellow graduate Julia Peterson ’21), Outstanding Senior in Dance, and Outstanding Senior in the Arts.
Hands on piano
We may find comfort and a restored sense of wonder in any of these forms of artistic expression.
Chika Matsumoto ’21 first started dancing because it’s what her friends were doing. But she never stopped. “It turned out to be a lifelong passion and hobby with me,” she said. “Dance has just been that one thing that stuck with me my entire life.”
Lianda Lonergan '21 is a member of the Pacific Dance Ensemble stying dance, exercise science and more, as she plans a career in physical therapy and preventative medicine for dancers.
Female dancer jumping in air
The Pacific University Theatre and Dance Department presents the Autumn Choreographers Concert in an exclusive online event, streaming Nov. 12-14. 
Abigail Schmidt performs with the Pacific Dance Ensemble from a distance
While Pacific University students were scattered this spring by the spread of COVID-19, many campus events were canceled, including the popular spring concert by the Pacific Dance Ensemble. Yet the dancing went on. Pacific Director of Dance Jennifer Camp, switching to virtual instruction, asked dancers to make videos of themselves performing aspects of choreography they’d learned. 

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